Belt loop for chains



E. S. SMITH.

BELT LOOP FOR CHAINS.

APPUCATION man 8.1.1922.

Patented May 9, 1922.

EZRA S. SMITH, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO R. F. SIMMONS COMPANY, OF ATTL'ETBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A FIRM,

BELT LOOP FOR CHAINS.

Application filed February To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EZRA S. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Belt Loops for Chains, of which the following is a specification.

y invention relates to belt loops adapted to carry chains for articles such as watches, key rings, and other articles commonly inserted in the pockets of trousers.

The essential objects of my invention are to provide a loop that may be applied to the belt after the belt has already been fastened around the body; to enable the instantaneous engagement and disengagement of the loop; to insure against accidental disengagement of the loop from the belt; and to attain these ends in a structure formed from a single strip of sheet metal and at a minimum of time and expense.

To the enumerated ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my loop engaged to a belt, the latter being shown broken away,

Figure 2, an edge elevation of the same,

Figures 3 and 4, sections of the loop on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the parts in locked positions respectively, and

Figure 5, a transverse section taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

My device is struck up from a thin sheet of resilient metal and comprises a flat substantially straight arm 7 and a flat preferably slightly swelled arm 8 united at its upper end with a flat bend or open loop 9. The lower end of the arm 7 is provided with an inward lateral bend or shoulder. 10, provided with a rectangular opening 11 in its central portion, and contlnues downwardly in a plane parallel with the c0ntinued vertical plane of the arm 7, forming Specification of Letters Patent.

1, 1922. Serial No. 533,312.

a depending lug 13 provided with a central per oration 14. The arm 8 near its lower end is bent at substantially a right angle, as at 15, to form a lateral slightly curved finger 16 having a reduced or narrower end portion 17 adapted to pass through the slot 11, andforming resultant lateral shoulders 18 adapted to abut against the portion 10 of the arm 7. Because of the convexity or ourvature of the finger 16 relatively to the dimensions of the opening, and relatively to the shoulder in which the opening is located, the lower edge 19, of the slot exerts a pressure upon anintermediate portion of the ringer, and the extremity of the finger is pressed strongly against the upper edge 20 of the slot as the finger is pressed there through, so that the tip of the finger snaps into engagement with the arm 7.

To disengage the loop an intermediate Patented May 9,1922. 7

portion of the exterior face of the resilient arm 7 is inwardly pressed by the thumb or finger while pressure is beingalso applied against the oppositeface of the depending portion 18 whereupon the finger 16 is re leased from engagement and is withdrawn to the position shown in Figure 4 by virtue of the resiliency of the arm 8.

Through the perforation 14: passes the end link of a chain 2-2 carrying upon its end an engaging member 23 which in the present instance is a snap hook.

In applying the loop it is, in open position, passed downwardly upon the belt so that the latter passes up between the arms 7 and 8 and then the lower ends of the arms are pinched towards each other and snap into engagement with each other. This opera tion may be performed while the belt is upon the wearers body, and the disengagement of the loop may be effected while. the belt is in the same position.

It will be also noted that as the loop is bent up from an oblong blank it is possible to use rolled gold plate, and thus provide a plated interior as well as exterior surface.

The described engaging means are quickly and simply operated.

I claim In a belt loop, a flat resilient arm comprisof the second arm provided with a reduced end movable through the opening to engage the body portion of the first arm, and a chain upon the depending portion of the first 10 arm.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my slgnature.

EZRA s. SMITH. 

